West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes collected from between the Neve Ya’akov and Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhoods in Jerusalem, Israel’s Environmental Protection Ministry announced on Wednesday in conjunction with the Israeli Health Ministry.
West Nile virus is not typically lethal and does not even cause symptoms in approximately 80 percent of those infected.
However, the remaining 20 percent will develop a fever and other flu-like symptoms. Approximately 1 in 150 suffer from brain inflammation and even death.
The Environmental Protection Ministry demanded that the Jerusalem Municipality take immediate action, including pest-control measures to prevent the spread of the disease, and also that it continue monitoring the situation and provide updates for residents.
West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in eight Israeli regional councils since the beginning of the year.
